The Musician's Way

Description

In The Musician's Way, veteran performer and educator Gerald Klickstein draws on the latest research and his 30 years of professional experience to provide aspiring musicians with a roadmap to artistic excellence. Written in a conversational style, the text articulates landmark strategies that equip readers to advance their musical abilities and succeed as performing artists.

• Delivers inclusive information for improving practice, performance, and self-care skills
• Written by a nationally known performer and educator, from one of America's top conservatories, with 30 years of experience teaching musicians to perform at professional levels
• Unites current research findings with the author's applied expertise to provide practical strategies that musicians can promptly put to use
• Introduces a comprehensive process for practicing music to stage-ready condition
• Presents a groundbreaking method for overcoming performance anxiety
• Supplies key guidelines for productive musical collaboration
• Includes case histories of musicians who surmounted obstacles to artistic excellence, as well as inspiring quotations from elite performers

About the Author(s)

Gerald Klickstein, Professor of Music, University of North Carolina, School of the Arts

Gerald Klickstein is Professor of Music at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and an active guitarist, author, and arts advocate. He frequently lectures at prominent music conferences and appears at leading American music schools and festivals where he performs, teaches, and directs original workshops. He currently serves as Artist/Member-at-Large on the board of the American String Teachers Association and is a member of the College Board's National Task Force on the Arts in Education. He also authors The Musicians Way Blog and maintains www.MusiciansWay.com, the extensive companion website to The Musician's Way.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part I: Artful Practice
1:Getting Organized
Artful Practice
Defining Practice
Creating a Practice Environment
The Five Practice Zones
Planning Your Practice
Scheduling Practice Sessions
Choosing New Material
Self-Recording
2:Practicing Deeply, I
Practicing Deeply
Habits of Excellence
Essentials of Artistic Interpretation
Mental Imaging
Warming Up
3:Practicing Deeply, II
The Craftsmanship of Practice
Starting New Material
Managing Repetition
Solving Problems
4:Practicing Deeply, III
Ripening Your Repertoire
Taking Breaks
Memorization Concepts
Memorization Strategies
5:Practicing Deeply, IV
Building Technique
Upgrading Musicianship
Fueling Motivation
Committing to the Creative Process
6:Musical Collaboration
Musical Collaboration
Professionalism
Interacting in Rehearsal
Correlating Solitary and Group Practice
Igniting Synergy
Forming a Musical Group
Part II: Fearless Performance
7:Unmasking Performance Anxiety
Fearless Performance
Unmasking Performance Anxiety
The Basic Anxiety Equation
Anxiety's Effects
The Roots of Performance Anxiety
Portraits of Anxious Performers
Crafting Confidence
8:Becoming a Performing Artist, I
Becoming a Performing Artist
The Heart of Performance
The Five Facets of Preparation
Preperformance Routines
Backstage Techniques
9:Becoming a Performing Artist, II
Stage Deportment
Shaping Your Stage Presence
Starting and Ending
Harnessing On-Stage Energy
Connecting with an Audience
10:Becoming a Performing Artist, III
Dealing with Errors
Postperformance Routines
Practicing Performance
Evaluating Your Progress
11:Performing like a Pro
Performing like a Pro
The Peak-Performance Myth
Designing Concert Programs
Three Model Programs
Creating a Preparation Timeline
Auditions and Competitions
The Recording Studio
Part III: Lifelong Creativity
12:Injury Prevention, I
Lifelong Creativity
Musicians and Injuries
Causes of Injury
Warning Signs and Responses
Injury-Prevention Basics
Recovering from Injury
13:Injury Prevention, II
Balanced Sitting and Standing
Meeting Your Instrument
Voice Care
Hearing Conservation
14:Succeeding as a Student
Succeeding as a Student
Student-Teacher Dynamics
Appreciating Criticism
Embracing Career Challenges
Counteracting Substance Abuse
Boosting Creativity
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index

Reviews

"This book is a rare example of clear, concise and useable information on music practice... If I read a better book on practice this year I'll be surprised!!" - Mike Saville, HowToPractice.com

"the main strength of this book lies in the depth with which the author engages with the processes of practising and performing. The comprehensive way in which these topics are covered provides students with clear guidance to support many aspects of their musicianship." - Noola Griffiths, British Journal of Music Education

"One of the most important books on musicianship in recent decades." - Joseph Docksey, Director, Lamont School of Music

"A masterful work, which I believe will quickly be recognized as the finest guide to the art of musical performance produced by our generation." - Kevin Lawrence, Artistic Director, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Professor of Violin, University of North Carolina School of the Arts

"I predict that The Musician's Way will be an instant classic. It is the most useful, comprehensive book I have ever read on developing the skills of a successful performer. Every music lover - student, professional, amateur, and teacher alike - should own this book." - Jeffrey Solow, Professor of Cello, Temple University President, American String Teachers Association

"An outstanding accomplishment... The Musician's Way should be on the shelf of every aspiring professional musician and every serious music educator." - Clavier Companion

"Klickstein covers the gamut of issues, tips, and ideas that make up the world of the serious musician... Students hunger for this kind of knowledge." - Notes

"Klickstein takes a common-sense approach and works his way through techniques for improving every aspect of a performer's life, from ways to memorise a piece to dealing with performance anxiety... It's all very well thought through and an interesting read." - The Strad

"A comprehensive guidebook from an experienced, insightful musician... You must read this book." - Stringendo

"A wonderful tool for all aspiring musicians" - Chad Criswell, MusicEdMagic.com

"You owe it to yourself to read this book." - Christopher Davis, ClassicalGuitarBlog.net

"Written in a light, conversational style...the many case examples bring reality to the text... A comprehensive guidebook from an experienced, insightful musician. If you think you know it all, you must read his book." - Mary Nemet, Stringendo.